Recoil-operated firearm.



No. 804,984. v PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

E. H. SEARLE.

RECOIL OPERATED FIREARM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1903.

a .5 6 SHEETS-BEBBT 1.

Enuaufoz! ZMJZa/JU v as PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

E. H. SEARLE.

REGOIL OPERATED FIREARM.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 25, 1903.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Gttmmu s.

qmiltuegopa:

PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

B. H. SEARLE. REGOIL OPERATED FIREARM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1903. l

" 6 SHBETS-SHEET s.

{3111mm for:

VPATBINTEDI NOV. 21, 1905.

B. H. SEARLE.

RECOIL OPERATED FIREARM.

v No. 804,984.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1903.

6 SHEETS-SHBBT 4.

No. 804,984. y, X PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905. ELH. SEARLB.

REOOIL OPERATED FIREARM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1903.

e SHEETS-SHEET 5.

(3111mm You:

@xninmaa: Q r v. i 1

PATENTED NOV. 21, 1 905. s. H. SEARLE. REGOIL OPBRAJIED FIREARM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1903.

' 6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

Ir j- 7 28 r av 7 J3 v Inventor I 614M 1% 251% kmll H llllllllllillllllllliIHHH] onth extension li'and the -ide ol' the netiohrecess of the frame. ln thi manner the receiver is connected at its front and rear elnls with the frame: ut a slight forward move ment beyond its normal position will bring the rear connections 16 into the 1nagaZine-reeess lb, (see Fig 1?.) while the front connections 15 will move beyond the extension ii, andthe receiver with its barrel and breech-boltare To prevent the receiver .release, the receiver. When the receiver is released and removed from the frame, the detent 9 may also be removed upward through the opening 20. i n a a The breech-bolt 7 is titted in andguided by the receiver 6 at its reduced forward end, as

shown in Fig. .12, and atits rear end tongue and-groove connections 23 with the spring abutment 24 at the rear end of the frame. The rear shell of the breech-bolt works over the abutment 24 during the action of the arm. The forward movement of the receiver necessary to release it from its tonguc-and-groove connections also releases the tongue-andgroove connections at the rear end of the breech-bolt. The breech-bolt is locked to the receiver during the first part of the latters recoil movement by a locking-bolt 26, working in the projection 14: and engaging behind a shoulder 27 on the breech-bolt. A rocker 28 also in the projection 14 engages the boltt26 and during the rearward movement of the receiver enters a depression 29 on the hereinafter-described action-case and causes the rocker to withdraw the bolt 26. This permits the breech bolt to continue its rearward movement independently of the receiver, so as to open the breech, as shown in Fig. 3, and withdraw the spent shell, for which purpose the breechbolt is provided with an extractor 7, Fig. 12, seated in a recess 7 c and pivoted through means of a cylindrical boss 7 bearing in a. cylindrical seat 7 in the side of the breech-bolt, en-

gaging more thana semicircumference of the boss, while the receiver has a laterally and downwardly presented d ischarge-openin g r 6". The extractor is held in 1 itsseat by a spring 7, mounted in a socket 7 inYthe' bolt 7, and by the upper and lower walls of the receiver, and can therefore be readily removed by swinging it outward and moving it downward,

or replaced when the breech bolt and receiver A pathway or slot? is also provided in the side of the bolt 7 to permit the bolt to move over the ejector-post 73.

are separated.

return the lneet'lnbolt and force in a new carlridgc. l provide a spring 3H, supported atits rearend by a post It ugainstthe spring-abutment 24 auddmving its forward end litted in above 23'. in the breech-bolt. This spring forces theln'eech-bolt back into the receiver and thereafter returns the receiver lo tiring position.

iii-i represents the liring-pin, whose bore 33" in the breeehdiolt intersects thatof the spring I 30, so that the springmay engage behind the head of the tiring-pin and retain it in position. Upon removing the receiver and breech-bolt the spring a is pvithdrawn and the .liringqjin maybe removed and,replaced. liyi the forward movement ofthegreeeiver the rocker28 returns the bolt 26 to its position behind the shoulder 27, and these parts :26 :27 being made ,wedging a tight closure of the, brcech s effected. The breechbolt lsarrested in its rearward movement by a stupid which receives the shoulder 27, Tlhisstop being at the base i of the abutment 24: ail'ordsa solidaud unyielding hmit for movement of the breech- The magazine-cased contains a double row ofcartridges and has retaining-lips 35at its upperend to prevent escape of cartridges ex cept as they are forced forward by the ,suc: cesslve closing movements of the breech-bola;

The breech-bolt is provided with a recess 36 a in itsunder side of a sizetto permit the uppermost cartridge to project: therein whenthe bolt is in a closed position. "This is a very important feature for the reason that a cavalryman, who is deprived ofthe use of, one of,

his hands owingto having, hold of the bridle, cannotwith ease insert a magazine that requireslthecompression of a spring which is already under great compression.

theurecess 36 without depressing the cartridges or compressing themagazine-spring, thereby overcoming the objectionabove mentioned, the, cartridges being depressed :when the breech-boltmoves rearwardly- This case is retained in the pistol-grip bygdetcnt 11,

4 By this improvement the uppermost cartridge enters pressed into engagement therewith by a spring 38, which also presses outward on the trigger 8,said detent beingfulcrumed at39and haying its free end presented in an opening40 to receive the finger when it isdesired to release the magazine-case. The magazincaase car ries a follower 41, which when, it reaches its upper limit displaces a trigger-locking dog 42am] permits the latter .to move downward behind a horn 43 on the trigger 8 underthe action of the springfifl, which is mounted within recess 42: inthe frame and bears against a cylindrical projection 42" on the dog, also mounted withinrecess 42 This prevents pressing the trigger to lire the last cartridge, and hencevthere is always a cartridgc left in the barrel-chamber to automatically operate the gun aftera freshlydoaded jgageinent" with I I 'Whenth'o dog is releasedby a reaching its upper= linut, it drops and catches -ni agazine case inserted. v 26, the locking-dog 42 has ai plural ty of; notches at its upper eiid.'.i The'lowen'one,

As shown in'Fig;

42, ofthesenotchesis engaged by the edge oflthe magazine-case'when the latter s insert- 'ed', which: moves the dog upward out of enthe] horn on the trigger.

upon the 'ipperhotch lzfl wliicli still retains "the engagement of the, dog with the case.

H dog: thereupon moves the magazine ward underflthe action "of the spring said dog, so that theimagazine'can readily be withd'raw n. The dog 42 acting on themagav magaz ne-release 11 lis"operated.if The user" The user of' he armQbeing notified by the loekingof the trigger that the cartridgesare v exhausted from themagazine-case presses'the detentll and releases the'magaZine-case. The

' auses the ejeetionof thesame when I having'been. previously notified by the trigger loe'k that them agazine is empty placesa hand in position toeatch'the magazine when itis ejected, thereby preventing it being thrown; to the ground and saving the sameforfuwreuse'f 1 ,An action-case edrestsupon seats 46 on opposite'sides of" hef'r'ame in the rear of the mag- I s azine. This action ease ,1s bifurcated at" its rear and its under Side."

tion is pivotedjat'flfthe hammer 44, prov'i'de'dwith allateral; projeetion 44: in the path of'the'projectioniltof upon therearwardmevement of the receiver the 'hammeris'cocke'd. In jthe bifurcation on the undersideof the aetion caseis pivoted at I 18 898? 45',I Which engages at itsrear'end L so I li'extending' th rough" amassin posite wall of the bifurcation,

.I Connection 2 between in the fnotch defied {hammer and is pro:- V vided with an arm'45", fitting in a recessti in one wall f the bifurcation and an arm45,

iet e n.

4 of the hammer.

.encyyto enteri fthe notch the trigger 8 and the sear e5 isestablish'd a rod 47, whose 'iorward end'48 engages .b'e-

ger, wl'le the rear end (if said rod' carries 3,

depending. pro eetion 1 ;"which engages the, i The rod 47 li'esinja arm 45 of the sear A5;

,recess47 along the left faeeof the frame.-

cavityand has a slightvertical play therein. It isfoi'ced-nor mally dowm'vard'by asp'ring 51,between,the"rod and the topof the recess gin which itfworl'g'si but by eompressing-spring distanee 5l ,it may r se upward in its'reeessasuflicient I thesear; This disengagementbecomes necessary in senii automatic tiring .inorder topermit the, sear to "instantlyflreengage'with' the hammer after-firing and atthe end of recoil,

down- 4251 of the'reeeiver, so -that" at57 with slight play A spring' i5,- Fig. 30, seated in the action-ease 4:6 and bear-, ing' against'jth'e rear of armv145'f of the sear,

causes the rear end of the, sear tohave a" tend-j I firingposition through the medium of 1 to disengage. it from the arm'45 of fit beingimpossible for the user to releasethe trigger with sulficient promptness for-this v j To'lift' the rod 47 out of engage purpose. ment with the sear, the rece ver 6 is provid with a groove 52 on its projection '14, asshownin Fig.

and holds the rod out of engagement with the sear during recoiljand until the receiver has returned to tiring positiomthereby giving it .vertical transverse movements.

8, which engages a projection 53 on the rod. s Groove 52 is so shaped that it raises l The safety-slide 10 will be understood upon reference to Figs- 1', 27, and 35. It (has a groove 54, which is engaged bya depending von the action-ease 4:6 to prevent portion '46 withdrawal-of the slide when the action-case is in place, while p'ermittingit to move back- 'the slide 10 will be arrested by the'sear. By s this meanstheposition'of the'hammer can be j ascertained at any time. g dilull automatica'ction of the arm is attained byproviding the attachments shown inFigs.

-wardand forward on the face of the grip, it i "being'held inthese two positions by a spring-.

'slidelO engages directly beneath the sear 4:5-

28, 30, and34r, wherein '55 represents a trip-v ping-fly mounted on" the hammertrunnion with transverse play and 56 a lever fulcrumed if which permits it to be pushed" in orup over aprojection 58. It is held in'either'position by a spring 59. I When t5 and "to have its arm 55" engaged by the rod ['47.- As has already been seen; the shapeof the groove 52 in thereceiverissnch that as the receiver reaches firing position the wall of thegroove'willdepress' the rod 4=7.- Hence when the lever56 is rocked inwardv on its pressed vinward, it'moves the fly '55 intoa'pO-l sitionto engagea projection 45f on the sear pivot 57 it will drove the fly 55 in such posi-' tion that each time the 7 receiver returns to the rod 47 will depress fly 55 and a'utomatically release the sear." The arm thus eontinues firing, but only so long as the trigger is pressed, since the release of 'the trigger will move Having thus-described my inventiomthe fol- 'lowing is what I claim as new therein and desire to secureey Letters Patent:

1. In a firearm, the combination of a frame,

a barrel sliding longitudinally into engageindent therewith, anda pivoted 'deten't securing Y the barrel against detaehm enq said pivoted ,detcnt being located 'on'thefframe and pro- 'jjectiiig into the trigger-guard, and having a spring pressing barrel."" I v a V 21" In a'firearm, the combination of a' frame,

it into engagement with the V the. rod 47 forward out of 1 f position to engage 'the'flyt.

a barrel slidahly mounted on said frame by meunsoi a tongue-aml-groove joint, and a pivotal dot-cut inserted downwardly into a vertical opening in the frame beneath the barrel, iulcrnmed against one end of the opening, engaging the barrel by an upwanlly-presented end, and having an end beneathits fulcrum projecting into the trigger-guard :to permit releasing the detent.

ln a recoil-operated firearm, the combination of the frame, the barrel having a receiver slidably mounted upon the frame by a tongue-and-groove oint, and a pivotal detent limiting the forward movement of the barrel, fulcrumed on the frame, projecting into a recess in the receiver, and having an end projecting into the trigger-guard by which to re lease the detent. n

4. In a firearm, the combination of the frame, a barrel movable longitudinally on the frame into and out of engagement therewith, and a releasable detent for securing the, barrel on the frame, fitted beneaththe barrel in avertical recess in said frame, and removable vertically therefrom when the barrel is removed. i

5. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, having a magazine-opening and a receiver constructed with front and rear projections having tongue-and-groove connections with the frame in front and rear of the m agazineopening; said receiver being releasable by moving it, forward until the rear projection enters the magazine-opening.

6. In a firearm, a frame having an opening therein, and a receiver slidingly connected with the frame by means of tongue-and-groove connections in front and rear of said opening and releasable by moving the: receiver until its connecting parts in rearof the frame-opening enter said openin 7 In a firearm, the combination of the frame, the brceclrbolt Ireciprocating on the frame, the firing-pin movableto and from the breech of the barrel with the breech-bolt, and

the return-spring; said firing-pin and return spring being contained in intersecting bores in the breech-bolt whereby the spring holds the pin in place. W n

8. In a firearm, the combinationwith the barrel and the reciprocati rig breech-bolt movable to and from the breech of the barrel, of a firing-pin carried by the breech-bolt to and from the barrel, and a return-spring arranged in a bore in the brcech-boltparallel with the firing-pin and engaging thesame on its side to retain it in the-bolt. 9. In a magazine-firearm, the combination of a removable cartridge-case ,provided with a spring for elevating the cai'tridges, and a breech-bolt having a recess in itsunder side of asize sufficient to permit the uppermost cartridge to project therein when the breechbolt is in a closed position and permitting the insertion of the case without substantiallydei i i receiver and engaging abeveled shoulder on the breech-bolt, a loosely-fulcrumed rocker mounted in the receiver moving with the same and engaging the locking-bolt, andmeans engaging therocker as the receiver moves back ward and forward to move the sliding locking-bolt to unlockand lock the breech-bolt.

, 11 In agun, thecombination of the removable magazine-case, a follower, a trigger, a

trigger-locking device engaging said case and adapted to be released by the follower, and means for throwing the same into a position to lock the trigger when so released, said magazine-case when inserted, adapted to move said locking device out of locking position, substantially asdescribed. n

12. In a magazine-gun, the combination of the trigger, a trigger-locking device normally holding the trigger against movement, means operated upon thecharging of thegun for,

operating the locking deviceto permit the I trigger to be moved andmeans automatically causing the lock ng device to lock the trigger against movement as soon as the magazine becomesempty. n

13. In a gun, the combination with the ie- I movable cartridge case, the follow'er for the same, and the trigger," of a locking device normally holding the trigger against movement,

-moved out of engagementwith the trigger by the cartridge-case;whenfinserted, and means engagement with the triggerjand i controlled by the follower.

MQIn a gumthe combination with a rer the cartridge-case and imparting movement to the same when the detent isfreleased.

automatically movingthe locking device into 15, In a magazine gun, the combination with the spring-ejected magazine-case and the trigger, of atrigger-lock operating before the case is e ected, means causing the trigger to helocked when the magazine becomes empty,

and a manually-operated magazine-release.

16. In a magazine-gun, the combination with the magazine-case andthe trigger, of a spring'pressed trigger-lock acting on the magazine to eject the casewhen said case s released, means causing thetrigger-lock to lock the trigger when the magazine becomes empty,

and means for releasing the magazine-case, 17. In a; gun, the combinationof the trigger, a spring-pressed device normally tending to lock the trigger, a magazine-case engaging the spring-pressed device when inserted, to

the spring-pressed device when the magazine 1s empty to cause the device to lock the trigger and yet remain in engagement with the i magazine-case to eject the magazine-case.

18. In a firearm,the combination of a frame, an action-case suitably mounted 'in the frame, a hammer mounted in said action-case, a sear eooperatingwith said hammer, projections on opposite sides of said sear,.a setting-spring cooperating with one of said projections, a

,release the trigger and a follower engaging.

push-rod cooperating with the other of said.

ing a projection working in a guide in the receiver, said guide being constructed to move the push-rod out of. engagement with the sear by the inward movement of the receiver so that the hammer may be engaged by the sear during the automatic operation of the arm.

20. In a gun, the combination with the breech-bolt and the receiver movable together and also relatively to one another, of a firinghammer, the sear, the trigger, a connection between the trigger and the sear, andmeans carried by' the receiver automatically breaking the said connection on the movement in one direction of the receiver and the breechbolt together.

21. In a gun, the combination with the.

breech-bolt and the receiver movable together and also relatively to one another, of a firing hammer, the sear, the trigger, a connection between thetrigger andthe sear, and means carried by the receiver automatically breaking the said connection on the movement in one direction of the receiver and the breech-' bolt together, and automatically making thesaid connection on the movement'in the other direction of the receiver and the breech-bolt together.

- 22. In a gun, the combination with the breech-bolt, and the receiver movable together and also relatively to one another by the force of the explosion, of a firing-hammer, the trigger, a sear, a rod connecting the sear and the trigger to operate the former from the latter for releasing the firing-hammer, a guide on the receiver formed to move the rod to one position to break the connection between the trigger and the sear in one direction of movement of the receiver, and to move the rod to another position to make the connection between the trigger and the sear in the other direction 'ot movement of the ireceiver. 23.] In a gun, the combination with the receiver movable automatically upon firing to permit a cartridge to be fed to the barrel, of (logging means holding the receiver against movement, and a trigger connected to the doggingmeans to move said means out of the dogging engagement with the receiver when pulled. g

21. In a recoil-operated firearm, the combination of the frame, the barrel and receiver recoiling on the frame,-and a firing-trigger having a projection normally engaging the recoiling-post and dogging its recoil movement except when thetrigger is pulled.

25. In a recoil-operated firearm, the combination of the frame, the barrel and receiver recoiling on the frame and a trigger for firing thearm having a projection extending forward and upward and normally in engagement with a shoulder on the receiver to prevent recoil of the barrel except when the trigger is intentionally pulled.

26. In a firearm, the combination of the frame, the barrel movably connected to the frame and a trigger fitted in the opening in the frame engaging a suitable fulcrum on one side of said opening and abutting the other side of said opening to prevent displacement of the trigger; said trigger being removable by swinging it upwardwhen the barrel is removed.

27. In anautomatic firearm,,thc combination of the hammer, the sear for holding. the hammer and the trigger, a rod through which the trigger controls the sear, releasing means movable into a-position to engage the sear, a part moving automatically in the operation of the gun provided with a cam-groove adapted to hold the rod out of engagement with the sear during the first portion of the movement of said part and to move therod into engagement with the releasing means to release the hammer at the end of the movement of said part.

28. In an automatic firearm, the combination with the hammer, the sear controlling the hammer and the'trigger for controlling the sear; a releasing-fly movable into and out of position to control the sear, and adapted to be operated by the automatic action of the firearm, and a lever controlling the position 01' said releasing-fly at will.

29. In an automatic firearm the combination of the hammer, the sear for controlling said hammer, the trigger, the rod through which the trigger controls the sear, connection between said rod and an automaticallyreciproeating part of the arm which imparts transverse movements to the rod, a releasingfiy movable into and out of position to engage the sear and to be engaged by the rod, and a setting-lever through \VlllCl1 the releasing-fly may be moved in and out of its efiIective position at will. v

30. In .a firearm, the comblnatlon ot the frame, the hammer, the sear, and the safetyslidc movable into direct engagement with the scar when the latter is engaging the hammer, and preventing the release of the sear when in such position, but abutting against the sear when tlii latter is in release position; said hammer and sear being mounted in an actioncase, and said safety-slide having a recess in which the action-case enters to retain the safety-slide in the frame. A

31. In cmnbination with the brcech-boltof a firearm, an extractor with a cylirulrical boss fitting in a cylindrical seat in said hrcech-bolt and having an eccentric face on said boss, and a spring seated between the bolt and said eccentric face, and throwing the free end of the extractor into engagement with the shell.

In combination with the breech-boltof a firearm, an extractor constructed with a cylindrical boss, fitting a cylindrical bearing in the breech-bolt which surrounds more than half the circumference of the boss whereby the bearing embraces the boss to hold the extractor in place; said boss having a flat outer face which releases the boss from its bearing when the extractor is turned outwardly to bring said outer face within the bearing; and a spring for holding the extractor in operative position.

33. In combination with the breech-boltof a firearm, an extractor constructed with a cylindrical boss, fitting acylindrical bearing in the breech-bolt which surrounds more than half the circumference of the boss whereby the bearing embraces the boss to hold the extractor in place; said boss having a flat outer face which releases the boss from its bearing when the extractor is turned outwardly to bring said outer face within the bearing, a spring for holding the extractor in operative position, and an eccentrieface on the portion of the boss within the bearing to receive said spring.

34. In a gun, the combination with recoiling part, the firing-hammer, the sear, the trigger, and a connection between thesear and the trigger moved by the rccoiling part to break the connection, of means adapted to be inserted between the trigger and sear connection and the sear, and operated by the said connection to operate the scar on every return of the parts of the gun to firing position while the trigger is held.

35. In a gun,the combination with the liringhammer, the sear, the trigger, and aconnection between the trigger and the sear, of a breechbolt, and a recoiling receiver movable to permit the locking and unlocking of the breechbolt and adapted to more said connection to operate the sear every time the parts of the gun return to tiring position while the trigger is held.

36. The combination with a trigger, of a trigger-lock, a spring moving the trigger-lock into engagement with the trigger, and a magazine-follower controlling the trigger-lock.

37. The combination with a trigger, of an independent trigger-lock,a magazine-follower independent of the lock controlling the locking action of said lock.

38. The combination with a trigger, of a spring-pressed triggerdock, means for holding the same out of locking relation with the trigger and a magazine-follower releasing said trigger-lock to cause its locking action.

The foregoing specification signed this 13th day of November, 1903.

ELBERT H. SEARLE. 

